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Someone in the Attic

A Novel

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From a #1 internationally bestselling author comes an atmospheric, chilling novel about a family who thinks there's someone hiding in their attic

“Andrea Mara is a star.” —Lee Child


You thought you were home alone.

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise coming from the ceiling. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing down, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realizes why the footage is eerily familiar: it was filmed inside her own house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.
Praise for Someone in the Attic:

“[Mara] lays out the pieces of the puzzle with diabolical wit, some good suspense and an unexpected note of sentimentality.”
The New York Times

“Bestselling Irish crime fiction writer Mara makes her U.S. debut with a meticulously crafted suspense tale replete with fiendishly clever twists and turns and a claustrophobic sense of menace that will have readers themselves wondering about the odd noise or two they hear at night in their own homes. A highly readable suspense novel in the style of Riley Sager, Alice Feeney, and Lisa Jewell, with a dash of Liane Moriarty thrown in for good measure.”
—Library Journal (starred)

“Does for bathtubs what Psycho did for showers. A thriller honed to a fine point, sharp and keen and piercing; it's darkly comic, too, and uncommonly observant.”
—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

“A gripping story, beautifully told. Andrea Mara is masterful.”
Patricia Cornwell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Postmortem

“A tense, terrifying, guessing game. Someone in the Attic twists, thrills and chills. I loved it.”
Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

“Someone is getting inside your house. . . It’s a chilling premise, and Andrea Mara executes it brilliantly. This one is an absolute page turner!”
—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“As if attics weren’t creepy enough already, this book will leave you scared of the slightest overhead squeak. Someone in the Attic augments its horrifying premise with shocking twists, complicated friendships and dark secrets. Highly recommended!”
—Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines

“The tension in Someone in the Attic is meticulously crafted, with a cover-your-eyes creep factor. If you’re a domestic thriller fan who hasn’t yet read Andrea Mara, you might have just found a new favorite.”
—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

“This is Andrea Mara at her heart-stopping best. Someone in the Attic is a dark, creepy, twisty thriller full of clever misdirection that would make Hitchcock proud, but it’s also a moving and thought-provoking tale of regret and letting go of the past. A brilliant book.”
—Claire Douglas, internationally bestselling author of Local Girl Missing

“A genuinely chilling concept - told with skill, empathy and wit. I enjoyed every terrifying page.”
—Elly Griffiths, international bestselling author of The Last Remains

“Spine-tingling . . . Mara skillfully weaves multiple mysteries into her bustling plot . . . ratcheting up the suspense. When it all comes to a head, readers will be equal parts shocked and satisfied.”
Publishers Weekly

“Mara skillfully layers red herrings and discoveries at a satisfying pace . . . Well paced and creepy—especially if you’re alone in the house while you read.” 
Kirkus

“Gripping. . . I'll never look at the hatch up to my attic in the same way again!”
—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project

“Full of twists and surprises, Someone in the Attic is a totally gripping, compelling read that will have you guessing and guessing again. She has a genius for creating situations where our worst nightmares come true. Hugely enjoyable–I couldn't put it down.”
Jane Casey, author of A Stranger in the Family

“[A] super-creepy, addictive thriller [that] layers mystery upon mystery. Not one to read late at night!”
—Good Housekeeping (UK)

“Creepy and unsettling and I couldn't turn the pages quick enough! Wow - what a story! I'll be keeping the light on tonight!”
—Ruth Kelly, international bestselling author of The Escape

“This is a rich and compelling story with a satisfying conclusion andbest of allone that I didn’t see coming. Twisty, clever, and scarily relatable. I loved it and I can’t wait to see what Mara does next.”
—Nicole Kennedy, author of After Paris
© Meabh Fitzpatrick
Andrea Mara is a number one international bestselling author. Several of her books have been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year awards. She lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband and three young children. Someone in the Attic was her US debut, and It Should Have Been You is her second novel to be published in the US. View titles by Andrea Mara

About

From a #1 internationally bestselling author comes an atmospheric, chilling novel about a family who thinks there's someone hiding in their attic

“Andrea Mara is a star.” —Lee Child


You thought you were home alone.

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise coming from the ceiling. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing down, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realizes why the footage is eerily familiar: it was filmed inside her own house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.

Reviews

Praise for Someone in the Attic:

“[Mara] lays out the pieces of the puzzle with diabolical wit, some good suspense and an unexpected note of sentimentality.”
The New York Times

“Bestselling Irish crime fiction writer Mara makes her U.S. debut with a meticulously crafted suspense tale replete with fiendishly clever twists and turns and a claustrophobic sense of menace that will have readers themselves wondering about the odd noise or two they hear at night in their own homes. A highly readable suspense novel in the style of Riley Sager, Alice Feeney, and Lisa Jewell, with a dash of Liane Moriarty thrown in for good measure.”
—Library Journal (starred)

“Does for bathtubs what Psycho did for showers. A thriller honed to a fine point, sharp and keen and piercing; it's darkly comic, too, and uncommonly observant.”
—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

“A gripping story, beautifully told. Andrea Mara is masterful.”
Patricia Cornwell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Postmortem

“A tense, terrifying, guessing game. Someone in the Attic twists, thrills and chills. I loved it.”
Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

“Someone is getting inside your house. . . It’s a chilling premise, and Andrea Mara executes it brilliantly. This one is an absolute page turner!”
—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“As if attics weren’t creepy enough already, this book will leave you scared of the slightest overhead squeak. Someone in the Attic augments its horrifying premise with shocking twists, complicated friendships and dark secrets. Highly recommended!”
—Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines

“The tension in Someone in the Attic is meticulously crafted, with a cover-your-eyes creep factor. If you’re a domestic thriller fan who hasn’t yet read Andrea Mara, you might have just found a new favorite.”
—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

“This is Andrea Mara at her heart-stopping best. Someone in the Attic is a dark, creepy, twisty thriller full of clever misdirection that would make Hitchcock proud, but it’s also a moving and thought-provoking tale of regret and letting go of the past. A brilliant book.”
—Claire Douglas, internationally bestselling author of Local Girl Missing

“A genuinely chilling concept - told with skill, empathy and wit. I enjoyed every terrifying page.”
—Elly Griffiths, international bestselling author of The Last Remains

“Spine-tingling . . . Mara skillfully weaves multiple mysteries into her bustling plot . . . ratcheting up the suspense. When it all comes to a head, readers will be equal parts shocked and satisfied.”
Publishers Weekly

“Mara skillfully layers red herrings and discoveries at a satisfying pace . . . Well paced and creepy—especially if you’re alone in the house while you read.” 
Kirkus

“Gripping. . . I'll never look at the hatch up to my attic in the same way again!”
—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project

“Full of twists and surprises, Someone in the Attic is a totally gripping, compelling read that will have you guessing and guessing again. She has a genius for creating situations where our worst nightmares come true. Hugely enjoyable–I couldn't put it down.”
Jane Casey, author of A Stranger in the Family

“[A] super-creepy, addictive thriller [that] layers mystery upon mystery. Not one to read late at night!”
—Good Housekeeping (UK)

“Creepy and unsettling and I couldn't turn the pages quick enough! Wow - what a story! I'll be keeping the light on tonight!”
—Ruth Kelly, international bestselling author of The Escape

“This is a rich and compelling story with a satisfying conclusion andbest of allone that I didn’t see coming. Twisty, clever, and scarily relatable. I loved it and I can’t wait to see what Mara does next.”
—Nicole Kennedy, author of After Paris

Author

© Meabh Fitzpatrick
Andrea Mara is a number one international bestselling author. Several of her books have been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year awards. She lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband and three young children. Someone in the Attic was her US debut, and It Should Have Been You is her second novel to be published in the US. View titles by Andrea Mara